Transportation systems, elevator systems, kits, tower sections and methods for performing assembly or maintenance operations in towers

Abstract

Provided are examples of transportation systems, elevator systems, and kits for use in towers, as well as tower sections and methods for performing assembly or maintenance operations in towers, particularly wind turbine towers, guides mounted in tower sections for transporting an operator or robot along an inside of a tower and an elevator carrying parts of such guides.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A transportation system for performing assembly or maintenance operations in a tower structure, the transportation system comprising:
 (a) a fixed guide which: (1) is attached to a tower structure for guiding a transportation unit, (2) wherein the fixed guide is configured to be connected to a movable guide, which movable guide is configured to be mounted in an elevator car of an elevator system and (3) extends from a first end to a second end less than 360° along an internal circular perimeter of a tower structure; and 
 (b) a transportation unit comprising a undercarriage for displacing the transportation unit along the fixed guide. 
 
     
     
       2. The transportation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transportation unit comprises a robot. 
     
     
       3. The transportation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transportation unit is a trolley configured to host an operator in the tower structure. 
     
     
       4. The transportation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transportation unit comprises a structure having a platform for supporting an operator and a guard rail system. 
     
     
       5. The transportation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the undercarriage of the transportation unit is rotatably connected to a structure for horizontally rotating the structure with respect to the undercarriage. 
     
     
       6. The transportation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transportation unit further comprises a driving system for driving the undercarriage. 
     
     
       7. The transportation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixed guide comprises an outer rail and an inner rail. 
     
     
       8. The transportation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the undercarriage comprises a wheel assembly having at least one main wheel for rolling along the fixed guide. 
     
     
       9. The transportation system according to  claim 7 , wherein the outer rail and inner rail are substantially parallel. 
     
     
       10. A kit for performing assembly or maintenance operations in a tower structure, comprising:
 (a) the transportation system according to  claim 1 ; 
 (b) an elevator system comprising an elevator car, the elevator car comprising:
 (1) a movable guide support structure; 
 (2) a movable guide (i) which extends from a first end to a second end; (ii) wherein said movable guide is connected to the support structure; and (iii) is configured to (iii)(a) be connected to a fixed guide attached to a tower structure and (iii)(b) guide the transportation unit of the transportation system. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The kit according to  claim 10 , wherein the kit comprises a first connecting guide for detachably connecting the movable guide of the elevator car and the fixed guide of the transportation system. 
     
     
       12. The kit according to  claim 11 , wherein the first connecting guide is configured to connect the first end of the fixed guide to the first end of the movable guide. 
     
     
       13. The kit according to  claim 12 , wherein the kit further comprises a second connecting guide configured to detachably connect the second end of the fixed guide to the second end of the movable guide. 
     
     
       14. A method for performing assembly or maintenance operations in a tower structure, comprising:
 (a) providing a kit according to  claim 10 ; 
 (b) placing the transportation unit on the movable guide of the elevator car; 
 (c) aligning the movable guide of the elevator car and the fixed guide; 
 (d) connecting the movable guide of the elevator car and the fixed guide; and 
 (e) horizontally displacing the transportation unit along the movable guide and/or fixed guide to a desired position. 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the tower structure is a wind turbine tower. 
     
     
       16. The kit according to  claim 10 , wherein the movable guide support structure of the elevator car and the movable guide are configured to support a transportation unit. 
     
     
       17. The kit according to  claim 10 , wherein the tower structure is a wind turbine tower. 
     
     
       18. The transportation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tower structure is a wind turbine tower.